The Big Bang Theory: "The Vacation Solution"Review

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Sheldon learns to behave...again.

By R.L. Shaffer

Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow...

Sorry this review is late. As I noted last week, I'm just returning from a vacation in sunny Orlando, where I traipsed through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, had my mind blown by the Blue Man Group and indulged in the joys of Walt Disney World. Ironically enough, I arrive back just as Sheldon is forced to go on a vacation. Once again, The Big Bang Theory seems to be in a transition of sorts, unsure of how to move the characters forward, leaving yet another mixed bag episode. On one level, "The Vacation Solution" is interesting, but for those who've longed to see a more classic return to form, you'll probably find disappointment ahead.

In the episode, Sheldon is forced to take a vacation by the university. He's not too happy about the situation and plots ways to sneak back to his office. Realizing this plan won't work out, Sheldon then decides to work in the biology lab run by his girlfriend, Amy Farrah Fowler. Naturally, Sheldon's competitive behavior and ego-maniacal superiority complex take control and Amy Farrah Fowler gets angry with him. Meanwhile, the group is stunned to hear that Bernadette is going to ask Wolowitz to sign a prenup, at the request of her hitherto unmentioned overly controlling father. The news makes its way to Wolowitz who naturally doesn't take the newfound info all that well.

I'm rather curious to see how the Bernadette/Wolowitz story develops over the next few episodes. It would seem like the writers are working toward an end goal there, with Wolowitz going into space for the first time, and the continued financial turmoil between Bernadette and Wolowitz coming up every few episodes. While the show has often shied away from any real confrontations, it does seem like this subplot will hit some kind of fever pitch as we approach the season's end. The whole Raj/Bernadette subplot never quite finished up either, so I'm guessing that will once again come into play as the season draws to a close.

The Sheldon/AFF subplot provided the episode's only real laughs, however thin they were. Once again Sheldon must learn to play nice in the face of intellectual competition, all while learning the value of an honest apology – something Sheldon seems to need to learn in just about every episode. While the women on the show are often portrayed in a frustrating (and perhaps cynical) light, this episode did try to give Amy some control over her sporadic, and frankly cold, relationship with Sheldon. Just as the Wolowitz/Bernadette relationship is brewing into confrontation, the Sheldon/AFF relationship seems to be growing and evolving, hopefully in amusing directions.

To complement this dynamic, the Leonard/Penny relationship was also brought up, and in some ways, used as a stark contrast between the show's other romantic elements. The discussion of a prenup between Leonard and Penny was both honest, and amusing, addressing the inherent insecurities of the men on the show.

Admittedly, while the character building was more fascinating than many episodes, "The Vacation Solution" really wasn't laugh-out-loud funny. While always amusing on some level, this episode didn't really harbor any belly laughs or hearty chuckles. But with characters this messed up – socially, intellectually and romantically – it's hard to teach a real lesson and be funny at the same time. As if winking at this reality, the opening moments echoed the sentiment, with Sheldon attempting to make physics fun and funny using a ridiculous Mad Libs story. In short, it didn't work.

While shaky and structurally unfunny at times, I commend episodes like this, if only because they're trying to find the balance between the show's quirky sense of humor and the deep-rooted emotional turmoils present beneath the surface of pretty much every character on the show. It doesn't always yield a laugh-riot, but it never fails to be interesting. I just hope the writers are building toward a solid payoff – one that addresses the complex dynamics but gives us a few good laughs along the way. As always, we'll see.